Can-washing machine



J. McGOWAN, JR.

CAN WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 23, ms.

Patented App. 4, \1922.

ATTORNEY.

WITNESS UNITED STATES PATENT VOFFICE.

JAMES MCGOWAN, JR., OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO JOSEPH CAMPBELL COMPANY, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

CAN-WASHING MACHINE.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES McGowan, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Camden, county of Camden, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can-Washing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This'invention relates to a can washing machine which is designed to operate upon the cans preferably in transit from a supply station to a filling machine or other similar destination. Such washing machine, however, may be used separate and distinct from the means for delivering the cans to the washing machine as well as to the can filling machine, .but for the purpose of illustration, it is preferably interposed in the path of the can from the can supply station to one or more of the can filling machines above referred to.

Generally the cans, in manufacture, are handled by machinery, and in spite of whatever precautions that may be taken a certain amount of foreign matter of any kind including dirt, solder, .etc., is bound to find its way into the cans. Dust and moisture are also frequently deposited in the form of a film upon the cans. Such foreign substances and coatings may be readily removed by the present invention, as hereinafter more fully shown.v

As a cleaning fluid, I prefer to use steam and water, but any other cleansing fluid that may have the property of a sterilizing or disinfecting or cleaning fluid may be used fully as well. In the present invention such cleaning or sterilizing agent may be introduced within each can or upon the outer surface thereof and may then be removed together with the foreign matter, as the can progresses through the washing machine.

One of the objects of my invention, therefore, 1s, firstly, to remove such foreign matter either forcibly by means of a strong jet of fluid or to dissolve and remove the same by such fluid, and, in some cases, to sterilize the cans, secondly, to remove such fluid together 'with all foreign substances and, thirdly, to dry said cans, preferably, While said cans are in transit through the washing machine. Where a sterilizing fluid is used the heating of the cans thereby is an-ad vantage when it is desired to apply the-contents therein while hot, no heat being thus Specification of Letters Iatent.

' Patented Apr. 4, 1922.

Application filed October 23, 1918. Serial No. 259,331.

lost by such contents coming in contact with the cans. At such time, I prefer, in addition to injecting such fluids within the cans, to also shift them about, that is to say, to shake or rumble them so as to aid in dislodging the particles of foreign matter adhering to the cans. It is also preferably intended to rotate the cans at the same time that these are vibrated and shaken so that the fluid may 'move about the interior surface of the can during the cleanin operation. Such means also comprehend t e idea of emptying the cans at a point.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and relating thereto,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partially shown in longitudinal section;

Fig. 2 is a .section taken upon the line 22 of Fig. 1 showing the positionof the parts in the first stage of operation;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 1 showing the position of the parts in the second stage of operation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken on the line etof Fig. 1 showing the dumping stage of the cans;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line --are spaced apart or have such a pitch as to provide a space between the succeeding worm surfaces which shall be slightly greater than the diameter of the can. In such a space, between the worm surfaces 4, the lowest can in the chute may rest until it is'moved horizontally forward by the worm after which the next above or succeeding can takes its place. The worm 3 is formed with a relatively thin blade, of helical form, which has but very little increase of thickness at the bottom thereof next to the shaft 5 upon and around which the blade 3 of the worm may be formed.

The diameterof the shaft 5 is such thatthe vAs the shaft 5 and the worm 3 are rotated right-handed, as viewed from the exit end of the machine, that is, referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the worm turns from the front to the back, the cans are immediately thrown to the back of said figure or to the right as viewed from said end, where there is positioned a strap or guide 6 of such width as to contact with the bottom or closed end of the can and along which the bottom of the can slides, being thrown thereagainst by the frictional contact of the cans with the screw flanges 4, and at the same time being carried to the right by the rotation of said screw The strap 6 may have protuberances on its surface so as to-a'gitate the can as it i passed therealong. V

he can 2 is substantially horizontal as it moves through and out of the chute 1, it being initially held horizontally by said screw; but immediately thereafter, the action of the worm 3 acts to throw the can'against the strap 6. The position of the can is there after determined by the contour of the straps 6 and 7 against one or the other of which the can may be guided. The straps (Sand 7 may be shaped so as to maintain the axis of the can at any angle with regard to the horizontal plane passing through the axis of the shaft 5.

As shown in the drawings, particularly Fig. 3, the can 2 may be guided into a position where the closed end of the can is higher than the open end, and in this position the cleaning fluid is forcibly thrown against the bottom and side walls of the can. The can 2, however, may be tilted otherwise a is found desirable, and, accordingly, thecontour of the straps 6 and 7 may be varied to conform therewith.

From the position shown in Fig. 3, the can is gradually advanced by the worm, as guided by the curved surface of the strap 6, to

the position shown in Fig. 4, Where the closed end of the can is also higher than the open end thereof and in the position where the cleaning fluid, and the foreign substances removed thereby, may be turned out of the can, the strap 7 preventing the can from falling forwardly out of the machine at this point.

Strap 7 is formed and attached so that it shall then guide the can backwardly as considered in connection with Fig, 1. The lowest point 8 of the guide bar 6 is at'the discharge end of the conveyor or worm 3, and here the side of said guide bar which is adjacent the can is substantially horizontal and on the level of the top of the table 9 of the can filling machine. The other guide bar 7, at this point is substantially vertically posi-' tioned over the end 8 of the guide bar 6. As,

therefore, the can reaches this point in its travel through the washing machine it is in a substantially vertical position resting on its bottom, and passes directly on to the rotating table 9 of the can filling machine, and

into engagement with the recessed arm 10 thereof. As shown in Fig. 1, the can-2 is ejected from the cleaner almost as soon as it becomes vertical yet this is not essential.

and 12 two three-way valves of any suitable well known-type whereby by appropriate positioning of these valves, any fluid such as steam or water may be used in either or both of the nozzles. Either or both of these valves may be intermittently moved by a suitable'actuating device, not shown, if desired.

I may, however, also blow air under pressure through either or both of the nozzles 14 and 15 for the purpose of dislodging any dirt and forei n articles that may be present in the cans. uch air may be either hot or cold and may be delivered by the nozzles 14 or 15 or, preferably,- by the nozzle 32 as may be desired or found necessary.

From the three-way valves 13, the fluid may pass to nozzles 14 and 15 positioned in the casing of the machine, so that the discharge therefrom shall pass' into the adj aoent open end of thecan 2. Nozzles 14 and 15 and 32 may be of any suitable construction.

Assuming the nozzle 14 delivers steam, it is apparent from Fig. 1 that the discharge will enter the can 2 as the latter is in a horizontal position, and that when said can has reachedthe position wherein it is tilted to the position shown in Fig. 3 the water from the nozzle 15 may enter or be injected .',into said can to contact with the inner surfaces thereof. The can may, however, be so positioned that the water may be directed to clean, the exterior of the can 2 as well as the interior. While the discharges from the nozzles 14 and 15 have been shown at particular places, it. may be observed that their position and number is not limited to that shown and that they may be arranged in any number and at any position desired.

After the cans 2 have'passed by nozzles 14 and 15, they will commonly be wet and in some cases to such anextent as to be unsuited for filling. Also it may be desired I have provided a drying or heating chamber 30 for this purpose. The chamber 30 is formed by placing a partition 31 about the worm 3 and as close thereto as feasible so as to restrain the escape as much as possible, of the drying or heating agent. Hot dry air has been found to be -a satisfactory agent to use in this chamber but I may use other means to effect the desired result.

As shown, I inject or introduce hot dry air into the chamber 30 by means of the nozzle 32. Any number of like nozzles may, however, be used for this purpose and the amount of flow therefrom may be controlled by a valve as in the case of nozzles 14 and 15. This nozzle 32 may be supplied from a pipe 33 in which may be located a suitable valve 34 for obvious purposes. I also introduce additional hot air into the chamber 30 by perforating the shaft 5 or the worm 3 and pass through the perforation 35 a suitable amount of hot a1r, a pipe 36, with a valve 37 therein, bein a suitable means for doing this. A sliding oint 38 may be formed on the end of the'pipe 36 and between it and the shaft 5.

While the can 2 is shown in a certain position in the drawings while passing through the chamber 30, I may even invert it completely or otherwise position it by simply changing the forms of the straps 6 and 7.

The partition 31 and-theend 39 of the casing may be supplemented by the use of a curtain, not shown, of any suitable form to morecompletely retain the heating medium in said chamber.

By using the worm 3 to convey the cans, and by having the strap 6 at the rear thereof, I have found a method for rolling the cans due to the contact of the surfaces 4 of the worm with the cylindrical surface of thecan 2, and consequently any fluidthat may be injected withm the can may sweep completely around the inner surfaces thereof as it is rotated. The extent of rolling maybe varied at will by retaining the can' upon the surfaces 4 at the proper angle and for a sufiicient period before moving it to either the dumping position orto a nearly vertical position where the can slides off the surfaces 4 andoutof the influence of said surfaces.

At the same time that the'rotation of the can is effected, a. considerable jarring or rumbling of the can is produced by reason ,of the contact. of the projections 40 on the straps 6 and 7 with the ends of the can and the surfaces 4 of the worm with the cylindricaFsurface of the can, which rests very lightly upon the shaft-5 of the worm 3. The motion of the can alon the strap 6 in contact with the surface 0 the worm, is, therefore, not a smooth one, and a continuous jarring or shakin ofthe cans is produced which serves to islodge the foreign subposition for said discharge. The protuberances may be regularly or irregularly spaced and may be of such a contour as will not cause the edge of the can 2 to catch thereon. There should be a distanceyof at least, the

diameter of the can therebetween to obtain good results. The straps 6 and 7 may be suitably attached to adjacent portions of the casing 28 or the frame of the machine, and are suitably spaced apart sufficiently to permit the can to move therebetween, that is, the distance between the surfaces thereof is greater than the length or height of the can.

The worm 3 upon its shaft 5 is mounted in bearings 16 and 17, and the shaft 5 extends through bearing 16 for suflicient distance so as to receive a gear 18 meshing with gear 19 therebelow mounted upon a shaft 20 which has bearings .at 21 and 22. Said bearings 21 and 22 are positioned in an ordinary frame supported upon legs 23 fastened upon the floor; collar 41 on the shaft 20 near the bearthe table-9 of the can filling machine, said beveled gear and table 9 being mounted upon the shaft 26 suitably connected to a power driven member. Adjacent to the can chute 1 and extending forwardly over the period of travel of the cans wherein they receive fluid and discharge it, a casing 27- is fitted. This may be substantially tight, if wished, by the use of a curtain, not shown, or it may be left open at its outer end; This casing may be integrally. formed with and located above another casing 28 which extends upon both sides of the washing machine and be low which it forms a catch basin to receive the dischar d water containing dirt and the like. A discharge pipe 29 serves to carry the waste water from the machine; Of course a screen may be positioned above the mouth of the discharge pipe.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States '1. In a can washing machine, the combination ofa rotating conveyer for conveying cans therethrough, said conveyer comprising adapted to engage the cans at the ends thereof for inclining the cans at different inclina- I tions to receive thereinto and pour therefrom cleansing fluids, and stationary fluid projecting means located adjacent the path of travelofthe cans through'the machine an3130 adapted to project different fluids into and upon the cans as the cans are ,moved past said fluidprojecting means. a

2. In a can washing machine, the combination of a rotating conveyer for conveying cans therethrough, said conveyer compris; ing means for simultaneously rolling the cans about axes transverse to the axis of rotation of said conveyer, curved guiding means adapted to engage the cans at the ends thereof for inclining the cans at different inclinations to receive thereinto and pour therefrom "cleansing fluids, protuberances. upon said guide means for'displacing and permitting a return of the cans from and to the normal path ofrconveyance thereof between said guiding means for agitating the cans and the contents thereof, and stationary fluid projecting means located adjacent the path of travel of the cans through the machine and adapted to, project different fluids into and upon the cans as the cans are i moved past said fluid projecting means.

3. In a can washing machine, thecombination of an upright can chute for vfeeding cans to said machine, a casing into which the cans are fed from said chute, arotating conveyer for conveying the cans at a uniform rate of movement through said machine in adire'ction parallel to the axis of said rotating conveyer, said casing enclosing the cans and said conveyer for a part of the travel of the cans and the length of said conveyer,.said casing preventing the external scattering of the cleansing fluids projected against and into the cans, means adapted to engage the ends of the cans to cause the cans to assume dif-.

ferent inclinations during the conveyance thereof through'said machine whereby the cans may receive thereinto and pour therefrom cleansing fluids, and stationary fluid projecting meanslocated adjacent the path of travel of the cans for directing jets of different fluids in succession upon andinto the cans while the latter' are conveyed throu h and inclined in said machine.

{L n a can washing and drying machine, the combination of a rotating conveying means for conveying cans through said machine in a direction substantially parallel to the axis of said rotating conveyer, spaced stationary means for applying cleansing and drying fluids to the cans during the conveylade spaced to receive the cans therebetween,

with the axes thereof transverse to the axis of the rotating conve er, said cans adapted to rest upon said tubu ar portion and in contact with said adjacent convolutions of said blade, spaced curved guiding members adapted to engage the ends of the cans for tiltin the cans at different angles to receive therein and to pour therefrom cleansing fluids, said tubular portion provided with perforations for-the supply of a drying fluid to the cans moved by said conveyer.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set means for agitating the cans long1-.

my hand this 18th day of October, D. 30

JAMES 'MoGOWAN, J a. 

